By: Donna Gorby, MLD, BSN, RN, Standards Interpretation Specialist Donna Gorby MLD, BSN, RN, is a standards interpretation specialist for acute care and critical access hospitals. Prior to joining ACHC, she served in various leadership roles including vice president...
By:Deanna Scatena, RN, BSN, Program Director Deanna Scatena RN, BSN has extensive patient care experience that encompasses post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), critical care, and cardiac and thoracic nursing. Since joining ACHC, she has led the hospital programs by...
By: Richard Parker, MBA, CHFM, Associate Director and Amy Antonacci, MSN, RN, Senior Standards Interpretation Specialist Posted: August 22, 2025Workplace violence in healthcare settings is a growing concern, with increasing reports of patients and visitors causing...
Posted: July 22, 2025Amy Antonacci, MSN, RN, is a Senior Standards Interpretation Specialist for ACHC Hospital Accreditation (Acute Care and Critical Access). She also serves as an ACHC Surveyor. Amy has been a nurse for 35 years, and her passion is patient safety. We...
Performance Goals and Indicators for the Hospital’s Physical Environment By: Richard Parker, MBA, CHFM Associate Director Posted: June 4, 2025ACHC Standards are structured to align with a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) quality improvement framework. Within each chapter,...
Mastering Informed ConsentBy: Standards Interpretation Team Posted: April 8, 2025Questions posed during ACHCU’s monthly Coffee Chat live webinar often serve to reveal opportunities to extend education and develop additional resources for ACHC-accredited hospitals. In...
Bridging the Gap: Connecting Hospital Physical Environment and Life Safety Standards By: Richard Parker, MBA, CHFM, Associate Director Posted: November 18, 2024From a facilities perspective, protecting patient and staff safety are the hospital’s biggest priority. To...
Advance Directives Require Important ConsiderationsAdvance directives rank among the most important legal documents in the healthcare setting. They come into use when a patient is incapacitated and cannot provide informed consent for care or cannot actively...
Assessing Competencies Helps Ensure Quality and Safety of Patient CareCompetencies are not just requirements in health care. They are crucial aspects. Competencies play pivotal roles in ensuring patient safety, quality and continuity of care, and operational...
Verifying Personnel Credentials Is a Crucial Task for Hospitals Posted: May 16, 2024In 2023, a multi-state scheme to sell fake nursing diplomas resulted in more than two-dozen federal arrests. Acute care and critical access hospitals of every size should view...